Water Salinizer

ABSTRACT

An article of manufacture for providing a water salinizer to add salt to pool water is disclosed. The water salinizer includes a barrel having a sidewall, a convex bottom, an angled sidewall between the convex bottom and the side wall, and an opening is a top surface for dissolving material into water, an input port coupled to the angled sidewall and being configured with the convex bottom to direct an incoming pressurized water stream and salt around the barrel along the angled sidewall, and a discharge port coupled to the sidewall about the opening in the top surface on an opposite side of the barrel from the input port.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This application relates in general to an article of manufacture for providing water treatment, and more specifically, to an article of manufacture providing a water salinizer to add salt to pool water.

BACKGROUND

The water treatment business, both in private systems as well as municipal systems, produce upwards of 80 million gallons of water a day at a single facility. Upwards of a dozen chemicals in granular and powder form are necessary to be added to water for producing good drinking water. The same may be said for swimming pools. The municipal systems have huge mixing tanks where multiple products are mechanically mixed for ease in release after dissolving into water being treated. In contrast, a homeowner of a swimming pool does not have access to a mixing tank option. Currently, these homeowners must manually mix all their granular and powder products by hand and dissolve them in the pool water.

All pool owners must either hand stir the products in a bucket to dissolve and then poor into the pool. When it comes to salt, you have 2 options. First, a homeowner may dump a 40-pound hag of salt into their pool and step on the salt for 2 or more days until it slowly dissolves. Alternatively, the homeowner may dump the same 40 lb. bag of salt into the pool and take a scrub brush for 20 to 30 minutes of hard manual labor to scrub the salt against the pool floor to assist the salt to dissolve in a timely manner. The homeowner may need to dissolve 2 or more 40 lb. bags of salt each week or more depending on your chemistry testing of the pool water which determines how much salt is needed per application.

Therefore, a need exists for an article of manufacture for providing a water salinizer to add salt to pool water without need for a significant amount of effort. The present invention attempts to address the limitations and deficiencies in prior solutions according to the principles and example embodiments disclosed herein.

SUMMARY

In accordance with the present invention, the above and other problems are solved by providing an article of manufacture for a water salinizer to add salt to pool water according to the principles and example embodiments disclosed herein.

In one embodiment, the present invention is an article of manufacture for providing a water salinizer to add salt to pool water. The water salinizer includes a barrel having a sidewall, a convex bottom, an angled sidewall between the convex bottom and the side wall, designed to direct the granular salt into path of water flow, and an opening is a top surface for dissolving material into water, an input port coupled to the angled sidewall and being configured to direct an incoming pressurized water stream around the convex bottom of the barrel and along the angled sidewall, and a discharge port coupled to the sidewall about the opening in the top surface on an opposite side of the barrel from the input port.

In another aspect of the present invention, the input port comprises intake directional port having a female hose fitting in an end extending to a location outside of the barrel, a curved top surface located within the barrel, a directional output is positioned about the middle of the top surface, and a channel connecting the female hose fitting to the directional output.

In another aspect of the present invention, the discharge port comprises a wall-mating surface, a threaded hose connection on an output side of a wall-mating surface, an inner barrel port on the barrel side of the wall-mating surface, and a discharge channel connecting the inner barrel port to the threaded hose connection.

In another aspect of the present invention, the barrel is an 8-gallon barrel capable of containing 40 pounds of salt granules to be dissolved when pressurize water enters the barrel through the input port with the dissolved salt and water exiting the barrel through the discharge port.

In another aspect of the present invention, the water salinizer according to claim 4, wherein barrel is further configured to generate a centrifugal flow pattern as the pressurized water flows from the input port and out of the discharge port.

In another embodiment, the present invention is a method of salinizing water in a barrel. The barrel has a sidewall, a convex bottom, an angled sidewall between the convex bottom and the side wall, designed to help direct granular salt into path of water flow, and an opening is a top surface for dissolving material into water, an input port coupled to the angled sidewall and being configured to direct an incoming pressurized water stream around the convex bottom of the barrel along the angled sidewall, and a discharge port coupled to the sidewall about the opening in the top surface on an opposite side of the barrel from the input port. The method adds granular salt into the barrel, connects an input water hose to the pressurized water inlet, connects a drainage hose to the discharge port, introduces fresh water into the barrel through the pressurized water inlet, and directs salinized water outflowing from the discharge port once the barrel has filled with water.

The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention.

It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features that are believed to be characteristic of the invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to the drawings in which like reference numbers represent corresponding parts throughout:

FIGS. 1 a-d illustrate an example embodiment of an article of manufacture providing a water salinizer to add salt to pool water according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates multiple views of an article of manufacture providing a water salinizer to add salt to pool water according to the present invention.

FIGS. 3 a-c illustrate multiple views of a discharge port fitting in an article of manufacture providing a water salinizer to add salt to pool water according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates multiple views of an intake directional port of an article of manufacture providing a water salinizer to add salt to pool water according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a flowchart of a method to salinize water using an article of manufacture providing a water salinizer to add salt to pool water according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This application relates in general to an article of manufacture for providing water treatment, and more specifically, to an article of manufacture for providing a water salinizer to add salt to pool water according to the present invention.

Various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts and assemblies throughout the several views. Reference to various embodiments does not limit the scope of the invention, which is limited only by the scope of the claims attached hereto. Additionally, any examples set forth in this specification are not intended to be limiting and merely set forth some of the many possible embodiments for the claimed invention.

In describing embodiments of the present invention, the following terminology will be used. The singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. As used herein, a plurality of items, structural elements, compositional elements, and/or materials may be presented in a common list for convenience. However, these lists should be construed as though each member of the list is individually identified as a separate and unique member. Thus, no individual member of such list should be construed as a de facto equivalent of any other member of the same list solely based on their presentation in a common group without indications to the contrary. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

It further will be understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” and “including” specify the presence of stated features, steps, or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, or components. It also should be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions and acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two figures shown in succession may in fact be executed substantially concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality and acts involved.

The terms “individual” and “user” refer to an entity, e.g., a human, using an article of manufacture providing a water salinizer to add salt to pool water associated with the invention. The term user herein refers to one or more users.

The term “invention” or “present invention” refers to the invention being applied for via the patent application with the title “Water Salinizer.” Invention may be used interchangeably with salinizer.

In general, the present disclosure relates to an article of manufacture providing a water salinizer to add salt to pool water according to the present invention. To better understand the present invention, FIGS. 1 a-d illustrate an example embodiment of an article of manufacture providing a water salinizer to add salt to pool water according to the present invention. FIGS. 1 a-d show a water salinizer 100 in a process to salinize water using the article of manufacture according to the present invention. A barrel 101 is shown in FIG. 1 a having a discharge port 102 coupled through a side wall of the barrel about a top edge of the barrel 101. The salinized water flows out of the discharge port 102 for use in a pool or other location.

FIG. 1 b shows the barrel 101 having an input port 202 located through the side wall of the barrel 101 about a bottom end on an opposite side of the barrel 101 from the outflow port 102. The barrel 101 has an opening in the top surface that permits the addition of granular pool salt 201.

As shown in FIG. 1 c , when pressurized fresh water is forced into the input port 202 of the barrel, the incoming water passes through the granular salt 201 in the barrel 101 to generate salinized water 301. When the barrel is filled with incoming pressurized fresh water, salinized water flows out of the discharge port 102. A hose (not shown) may be attached to the outflow port 102 to direct the salinized water 403 to a desired location.

Due to the location of the pressurized water inlet 202, and the pressure of the water supply, the water 403, as shown in FIG. 1 d , will circulate 401 through the granulated salt in a centrifugal pattern. This centrifugal flow pattern 401 maintains consistent water flow through the granular salt 201 and expedites dissolution. As the salt granules 201 are dissolved, the salinized water 403 is discharged through the discharge port 102 by the pressure of the incoming fresh water.

The water salinizer 100 dissolves all of the salt granules 201 when the water passes through the barrel 101 and out of the discharge port 102 and into a pool or similar destination. A user may control how much of the salt is added to the water in the pool by running the water salinizer 100 until a desired amount of salt has been dissolved. Other minerals and water treatment additives may be dissolved in a similar manner using the water salinizer 100 as described herein.

FIG. 2 illustrates multiple views of an article of manufacture providing a water salinizer to add salt to pool water according to the present invention. FIG. 2 shows a left side view 210, a front side view 211, a right-side view 212, a top view 213, and a cut-through view 213 of the barrel 101. The discharge port 102 and the pressurized water inlet 202 are shown to disclose the relative position of each to the other. The top opening 221 in the barrel 101 used to add the granular salt is shown in the top view 213. The cut-through view 213 of the barrel 101 view shows a convex bottom and angled sidewall 214. This convex bottom and angled sidewall 214 of the water salinizer 100 significantly aids the incoming water flow as it circulates through the barrel 101 to dissolve the granular salt.

In a preferred embodiment, the barrel 101 is an 8-gallon drum. The inflow port 202 comprises a 0.750-inch inlet housing 400, shown in detail in FIG. 4 , and a 0.750-inch female garden hose fitting 300 shown in detail in FIG. 4 . The discharge port 102 comprises a standard 1.50 inch male hose fitting, as shown in FIG. 3 , to allow a hose to direct the salinized water to a desired location. The bottom surface of the barrel 101 comprises an upward convex surface and an angled sidewall of the barrel 101 attached to the bottom to assist to direct the granular salt 201 into the path of the pressurized fresh water 301 as it circulates upward.

FIGS. 3 a-c illustrate multiple views of a discharge port fitting in an article of manufacture providing a water salinizer to add salt to pool water according to the present invention. The discharge port fitting 300 is shown to comprise a discharge channel 301 through the discharge port fitting 300 in which the salinized water flows, a threaded hose connection 303 on an output side of a wall-mating surface 303, and an inner barrel port 304 on the barrel side of the wall-mating surface 303. The wall-mating surface 303 is curved to match the radius of the barrel 101. The threaded hose connection 303 is sized to match a hose to be used to direct the salinize water to its destination. The inner barrel port 304 passes through the barrel 101 sidewall to access the salinized water in the barrel 101. The discharge port fitting 300 may be coupled through the barrel 101 using PVC glue or similar adhesive between the barrel walls and the wall-mating surface 303.

FIG. 4 illustrates multiple views of an intake directional port of an article of manufacture providing a water salinizer to add salt to pool water according to the present invention. The intake directional port 400 is shown in a bottom view 401, an end view, a barrel sidewall side view 403, and an output side 404. A standard 0.750-inch female hose connector 412 is located in the end side 402 of the intake directional port 400. The intake directional port 400 is coupled to the sidewall of the barrel 101 about the bottom surface having the barrel sidewall side 403 coupled to the sidewall. A top surface 413 of the intake directional port 400 is slopped downward from the end side 402 along its length and is simultaneously sloped downward from the barrel sidewall side 403 toward an inner barrel side 406.

A directional output 411 of the intake directional port 400 is positioned about the middle of the top surface 413. The directional output 411 is connected to the female hose connector 412 by a channel 414 through the intake directional port 400. This curved shape directs the pressurized fresh water to circulate about the barrel along the sidewall as the water flows through the granular salt. The top surface is sloped downward having a radius of 4.52 inches along the barrel sidewall side 403 and a radius of 5.27 inches the inner barrel side 406. The intake directional port 400 is secured to the sidewall of the barrel using PVC glue or similar adhesive in the preferred embodiment. Locator projections 421 a-d are little nubs that stick out from the fitting which align exactly with dimples or indentions that will be placed on the bottom side of the barrel 101 for perfect alignment for affixing with PVC glue.

The ¾″ (0.75″) threads 412 start out straight into the block but with the shape turning into and angular/radius/form, now it is exiting in an angular fashion to mate with the curvature of the barrel 101. The same angular exiting shape with be drilled through the side angle of the barrel 101 but does not need to be threaded as the only threads 412 needed are in the inlet assembly 400 to screw in a ¾″garden hose fitting.

FIG. 5 illustrates a flowchart of a method to salinize water using an article of manufacture providing a water salinizer to add salt to pool water according to the present invention. The process 500 begins 501 when a user adds granular salt into a barrel 101 according to the present invention in step 511. In step 512, the user connects an input water hose to the pressurized water inlet 202. A drainage hose is connected, in step 513 to the discharge port 102.

Once configured, fresh water is introduced through the pressurized water inlet 202 into the barrel 101 about its bottom surface in step 514. The barrel 101 becomes full with water that has passed through the granular salt added to the barrel in step 515 causing salinized water to flow out of the discharge port.

Test step 516 determines whether the salt granules have dissolved within the barrel, and if not, the process 500 returns to step 514 to continue to add fresh water to the barrel 101. When all of the test step 516 determines that all of the salt granules have been dissolved, the process 500 ends 502.

Even though particular combinations of features are recited in the present application, these combinations are not intended to limit the disclosure of the invention. In fact, many of these features may be combined in ways not specifically recited in this application. In other words, any of the features mentioned in this application may be included in this new invention in any combination or combinations to allow the functionality required for the desired operations.

No element, act, or instruction used in the present application should be construed as critical or essential to the invention unless explicitly described as such. Further, the phrase “based on” is intended to mean “based, at least in part, on” unless explicitly stated otherwise. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An article of manufacture providing a water salinizer to add salt to pool water, the water salinizer comprises: a barrel having a sidewall, a convex bottom, an angled sidewall between the convex bottom and the side wall, and an opening is a top surface for dissolving material into water; a pressurized water inlet coupled to the angled sidewall and being configured with the convex bottom to direct an incoming pressurized water stream and salt around the barrel along the angled sidewall; and a discharge port coupled to the sidewall about the opening in the top surface on an opposite side of the barrel from the input port.
 2. The water salinizer according to claim 1, wherein the input port comprises intake directional port having a female hose fitting in an end extending to a location outside of the barrel, a curved top surface located within the barrel, a directional output is positioned about the middle of the top surface, and a channel connecting the female hose fitting to the directional output.
 3. The water salinizer according to claim 1, wherein the discharge port comprises a wall-mating surface, a threaded hose connection on an output side of a wall-mating surface, an inner barrel port on the barrel side of the wall-mating surface, and a discharge channel connecting the inner barrel port to the threaded hose connection.
 4. The water salinizer according to claim 1, wherein the barrel is an 8-gallon barrel capable of containing 40 pounds of salt granules to be dissolved when pressurize water enters the barrel through the input port with the dissolved salt and water exiting the barrel through the discharge port.
 5. The water salinizer according to claim 4, wherein barrel is further configured to generate a centrifugal flow pattern as the pressurized water flows from the input port and out of the discharge port.
 6. A method of salinizing water in a barrel, the barrel having a sidewall, a convex bottom, designed to help direct granular salt into path of water, and an angled sidewall between the convex bottom and the side wall, and an opening is a top surface for dissolving material into water, an input port coupled to the angled sidewall and being configured to direct an incoming pressurized water stream around the barrel along the angled sidewall, and a discharge port coupled to the sidewall about the opening in the top surface on an opposite side of the barrel from the input port, the method comprising: adding granular salt into the barrel; connecting an input water hose to the pressurized water inlet; connecting a drainage hose to the discharge port; introducing fresh water into the barrel through the pressurized water inlet; and directing salinized water outflowing from the discharge port once the barrel has filled with water. 